The Reason You Should Move to another Country

Moving Abroad

More and more people have been moving abroad in
recent years, but it's not an easy decision to make, let alone go
through with. At a time when the concept of travel has never been
easier, anyone faced with this decision should take a look back before
moving forward.

The general attitude toward travel-and, in particular, toward moving
abroad-has changed drastically throughout the past two decades. There
was a time not long ago when travelling to a faraway place or relocating
to another country was considered an unfortunate event, the result of
unemployment, disaster or hard times.

For example, in the mid-1800s, in one of the greatest natural
disasters of all time, a potato famine caused the deaths of one million
people in
Ireland and forced another million to leave the country. In the 20th
century, people all over the world were crossing borders to escape the
First World War. Toward the end of this same period, extremely
unprosperous conditions caused mass migrations across many parts of
Europe due to a lack of jobs, uncertainty or an unsafe future. These
were deciding factors, not just then but also in recent times.

When we keep this in mind, it's no wonder that the idea of travelling
abroad can evoke a distinct feeling of fear or anxiety in most people.

Change in Attitude

Unfortunately for those who lived through these
difficult periods of uncertainty, the mind is not so forgetful. However,
as time passes and civilizations progress, more recent generations have
had the opportunity to reassess this attitude toward travel and the
reasons why one should move to another country.

This change is due in large part to the introduction of the Internet
and is best seen through the emergence of an enormous online community
known as “professional travel bloggers.” This movement is particularly
significant because it demonstrates the swift change in attitude from
the times when people travelled out of necessity to an age when travel
has become a lifestyle.

When we leave history and unfortunate circumstances in the past where
they belong, we find that moving to another country or travelling to a
different part of the world has taken on an entirely different meaning.
We travel for enjoyment, not necessity.

Although war, unemployment and natural disasters still exist, people
are now travelling because they want a change. Nobody wants to leave
behind their family or to go away with the thought that they may never
see home again. However, there are changes which can only take place
through the experience of going somewhere new.

Change in Culture

You will feel enlightened when you experience a
new culture. The traditions of a foreign country can open your eyes to
new ideas or new ways of living. Watching locals go about their daily
lives in a way which is slightly or vastly different from your own is
enlightening and will teach you something about life which you may not
otherwise have come to understand.

Change in Character

When you arrive somewhere new, you don't have
the support system on which you once relied. It can be a scary feeling
to move abroad and suddenly find yourself without friends, family or a
daily routine. Moving to another country requires responsibility, which
pushes you to overcome your fears. It takes courage to move into the
unknown, but when you come out on the other side, you will find that it
has strengthened your character.

Change in Mindfulness

Whether you
move from Japan to USA or to New Zealand, when you move somewhere
new, you stop being consumed by your own thoughts and learn to be
mindful of the people around you. The experience of living in another
culture or within the boundaries of an unknown destination will teach
you to listen more, to value the presence of other people and to
understand that it is they who will bring meaning to your life, not the
other way around. You will make friends; it may take time, but it will
happen and you will change during the
time you spend with them.

Change in Surroundings

A daily routine can kill your passion for life.
The same office, the same bus, the same restaurant, the same bar, the
same streets and the same people?staying in the same place for too long
can make a person feel as though their life is stagnant. Something as
simple as changing the scenery can be like pressing the “refresh” button
on life.

Regardless of how small or insignificant these changes appear to be,
the very fact that your surroundings are different awakens the senses.
It is during these moments that you feel truly alive. The opportunity to
meet new people can be a great thing, while, at the same time, being
away from the comforts of home, family and friends can serve as a
reminder to cherish the people who are most important to you.

Change in You

When you move away from home, you understand the
importance of getting to know yourself. There is no better way of doing
this than through the new experiences you encounter while living in
another country.

Living abroad-and, in particular, doing so alone?gives you time to
understand who you are and what you want from life. It allows you to see
life from a different perspective and to re-evaluate things that need to
change.

It takes courage to move to another country; however, as with
anything in life, instead of focusing on the reasons why it might not
work, we should focus on the many reasons why it will. There is so much
to be gained on a personal level from living abroad, and we should count
ourselves lucky to have this opportunity. We are privileged to live in a
time when the decision to move to another country can be based on the
pursuit of joy and enlightenment, rather than on the terrible reasons
people faced in the past.